Boise state university in collaboration with NASA johnson space center will develop a novel, flexible hybrid electronics based sensor system for real-time strain measurements in support of NASA's…

This is a Cooperative Agreement awarded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to Boise State University for the development of a novel, flexible hybrid electronics-based sensor system for real-time strain measurements. The goal is to leverage nanomaterials and additive manufacturing to create a flexible sensor network that can measure strain in fabric-like structures, which will support NASA's needs for monitoring stress on flexible materials. The $95,278.35 contract will fund a prototype that can be tested at the NASA Johnson Space Center. This contract is not set aside and is part of Boise State University's established federal contracting capabilities, which include research and expert witness services for various agencies such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Department of Energy.

Boise state university in collaboration with NASA johnson space center will develop a novel, flexible hybrid electronics based sensor system for real-time strain measurements in support of NASA's goals. NASA has identified a need for measuring stress on flexible materials that exhibit high rates of strain. Our goal is to leverage the intersection of nanomaterials and additive manufacturing to create a flexible sensor system for real-time monitoring of strain in fabric like structures. A network of flexible, capacitor strain gauges will be developed at boise state university using the advanced fabrication method- aerosol jet printing- and inks based on nanoscale materials. The capacitive strain gauges will be printed onto flexible substrates, which will allow for measurements on flexible materials. A prototype will be built by boise state that can then be used for capability testing on a full scale test article with the support of johnson space center. We anticipate that our results will have a significant impact on the measurement of strain in fabric articles, allowing for model correlation, and test validation of inflatable, non- rigid structures such as parachutes and habitats.